A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED LOGOS OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Abstract

The medical professional bodies of Nigeria constitute the bedrock of the nation’s healthcare. This paper conducts a semiotic analysis of selected logos of medical professional bodies in Lagos with the aim of uncovering the contextual interpretations and representations. Deploying Kress and Leeuwen's (2006) Visual Grammar as the theoretical framework and the descriptive qualitative method of analysis, the study analyses twelve (12) logos of medical professional bodies, purposively selected from their official websites. The analysis espouses the significance of the graphics, writing, colour, and symbol of the selected logos. The study reveals that the logos of medical professional bodies incorporate symbols representing qualities like strength, administration, knowledge, healing and oneness. This suggests that these professional bodies aim to convey a sense of power, healthcare, surveillance and commitment through their visual identities. This paper therefore concludes that the usage of semiotic resources holds a level of prominence, significance and relevance in Nigerian healthcare issues. As a result of its findings, the research strongly recommends the incorporationof semiotic analyses as a vital instrument of addressing and managing health-related issues.